Hongjoong was quiet on the way home, but not because he punished Seonghwa with silence. He was caught up in his mind about the party and about the piece of music Seonghwa had played for him. It had been for him, for Hongjoong, the man of the streets who caught rats. Not the fine lady Seonghwa had hired to play his companion.

Seonghwa had nearly been charming tonight, in a way that was as genuine as his usual bullying would be.

Hongjoong was both impressed and stunned at how pleasant the man could be if only he wanted. Still, he was mystified about what had warranted that change in behaviour. Had Seonghwa listened to Hongjoong's story about his origin and established empathy? Had he hit his head? Today had been full of surprises, and Seonghwa had shown surprising compassion.

From his peripherals, Hongjoong peered at Seonghwa. The earl sat in the corner of his bench instead of taking over the middle like he ordinarily would. He had opened the curtains to his window to watch the nightly sky over the fields pass.

Hongjoong looked at his lap again. His brain was foggy with contradicting feelings about the man's attitude. Hate for his usual superiority complex, but understanding of the circumstances Seonghwa got forced into by his peers and family. Ever so occasionally, his heart reminded him of Seonghwa's proximity both in the corridor and in the kitchen, how he had kissed Hongjoong's cheek, how he had lifted him in the dance.

Had they started off on the wrong foot? No, Seonghwa believed the harmful things he had said. Just because Hongjoong didn't feel insulted personally since he was no female, didn't mean it eased the vile mindset of the earl.

"Can you tell me what the stars mean?"

Hongjoong glanced out of the window Seonghwa was staring at. The man's face was serene as he was lost in thought.

Gingerly, Hongjoong scooted closer to avoid ripping the man out of his harmonious trance. He scanned the sky for any familiar pictures.

This side of the carriage had no lamp, so only the silhouettes of the dark earth dotted by the occasional tree with its gnarly hands greeted them. Above was the sky that moved with them on their journey home.

Hongjoong leaned in to point it out with his fingers.

"The one that looks like a W is called Cassiopeia. It will move past the treetop in a moment. It's named after an ancient Greek queen who was known for being vain."

Seonghwa nodded, not perturbed by how Hongjoong had pointed out that one first. Since his little jab passed the earl, Hongjoong lowered his guard further. Seonghwa wasn't out to fight tonight.

"To its southwest is Gemini, the zodiac of December. The two bright stars connect to a rectangle. People born under that zodiac are associated with bravery for the myth about the twins it's named after."

Hongjoong leaned to see more to Seonghwa's side.

"The brightest star up there is Orion, directly to the right." Hongjoong faltered, once more reminded of how Seonghwa's grin crooked like that constellation. For a moment, silence spread in the night.

"What does Orion mean?" Seonghwa spurred him on. His eyes reflected the stars far up.

"Orion was a hunter; most stars up there form wild animals that he fights. There is a hare, and Taurus, a bull, whom he hunts with his two dogs. The sky as it is up there tells his story. He symbolises power and strength."

"I can't see the hare."

Hongjoong searched it himself. It stuck low on the horizon, not quite up in the sky yet. When he pointed his finger at it, Seonghwa tried to align his vision by dipping into Hongjoong's space.

"See the ears?" Hongjoong whispered, as if afraid to break the spell weaving peace around them for once.

Seonghwa hummed.

"What sign were you born under?"

"Scorpio, but it isn't here anymore."

Seonghwa continued to study the skies. His awe was one Hongjoong had forgotten since he had got so used to marvelling at the sky. Looking up at its grandeur made it easier for him to forget the misery of the real world and his surroundings. His frequent escape to the stars had made him numb to their magic.

"What does it stand for?"

Hongjoong had to chuckle at himself at the question.

"Stubbornness," was all he said. When Seonghwa turned to look at him with surprise, Hongjoong just grinned.

A faint smile tugged on the right corner of Seonghwa's lips.

"That fits you. Mine is Aries."

"Aries is very... ambitious." Hongjoong bit his tongue before he could spell the word 'honest.' Seonghwa was anything but.

Seonghwa just nodded to himself, still busy imagining the grand hunting scene that took place in the night.

"Reading the stars differs remarkably from reading the flowers," he noted. "But both of them use ancient meanings carried through time by myth and legend."

Hongjoong folded his hands in his lap and withdrew to leave Seonghwa space at the window.

"They do."

"Are you interested in reading more about them? I noticed you work through my library like a worm, hungry for words. I have a book on the topic in my room, and I could give it to you later." Seonghwa's light voice meant the joke without hostility.

"I would gladly read it," Hongjoong approved. As long as Seonghwa was friendly, Hongjoong also had no issue coordinating a deal.

Seonghwa fell quiet after that and focused on the celestial bodies moving by. Hongjoong rested his eyes, since the rumbling and rattling of the carriage made him queasy. Back at home, he would eat and jump right into his cosy bed. He was exhausted enough by this night of many strange impressions that he might forgo reading for a night.

The carriage arrived at Seonghwa's home without a hitch. After Seonghwa had helped Hongjoong out of the vehicle and dusted his hands off, he motioned him to go ahead.

"I have some business outside, but you don't have to wait up for me. May I lend this?" Seonghwa received a lantern from the coacher before he wandered off into the night. Too sleepy to interrogate him, Hongjoong scaled the stairs to the entrance.

Jongho greeted him with a friendly smile as he opened the door.

"Welcome back, mylady. Where did you leave the master?"

"I strangled him and dumped his body in the Thames," Hongjoong said with a straight face. Jongho snickered.

"Has he misbehaved again to warrant such treatment?"

"I could say he was surprisingly amiable today. He will be back in a while; he left for the fields if you want to follow him. I will rest."

Jongho nodded.

"Emily and Mingi left already, but there is always food for you to relish in. Excuse me." Jongho ducked outside into the night to follow the ghostly glow of Seonghwa's lantern as the earl wandered the gardens.

Hongjoong climbed the stairs and sat down in his room with a sigh. He freed the comb from his hair to place it on the side reverently before he undid his hairdo. Once the wig was brushed out again, he propped it up on a bowl that kept it in shape and rid himself of his heavy necklace.

He changed into his sleeping clothes after washing his face and curled up under his blanket. His light was still on as he sorted his pillows when someone knocked on his door. Before Hongjoong needed to reply, steps crossed the corridor and the opposite door shut with a click.

Curious, Hongjoong scrambled out of bed. He took his blanket with him to hook it over his head and hid his hair away if anyone caught him.

In front of his door on the carpet, laid a book bound in old leather. On top of it rested a purple flower reminiscing of a daisy, but with many more leaves.

Hongjoong picked both of them up and took them with him back inside. He put the new book on his pillow while he used his dictionary to explore the meaning of the flower first.

The daisy look-a-like gets its name from the Greek word "astron," meaning star. With its wildflower appearance and multitude of colours, the aster is a perennial favourite but blooms best in the summer. Among its colour variety, purple asters are most common and generally symbolise wisdom and royalty.

Charmed by the aster, Hongjoong set it down on his bedside table. In his light, the purple blossom looked almost brown.

Hongjoong opened the book Seonghwa had left him next. The first page read 'The myths of Greece: a fantastical collection.' It was an old book, and the pages were yellowed with the years they had seen. Still, the ink was well visible.

Hongjoong read in it for a while since he couldn't contain his interest. He learned about creatures with lion heads and bat wings and scorpion tails, about man-bulls, and about the singing devils of the sea.

By the time his lids weighed heavy on his face and his pillows entranced him to sleep as the sirens did to the brave sailors at sea, Hongjoong reached to use the aster as his bookmark. As he slipped it in place and pressed the book shut, he noticed a second, dark green and flat stalk further back in the book as it peeked out between the pages.

Hongjoong flipped it open to find it stuck behind the end of a chapter. This time, he didn't need a dictionary to identify the flower, since it was a white daisy, the most easy-going of all flowers. With a last shove of energy, Hongjoong pulled the dictionary closer to learn its meaning after so many years of seeing it in the fields and corners of the houses.

"Purity and innocence," Hongjoong muttered to himself. The irony amused him until his eyes found the line at the very bottom.

The daisy is the birth flower of those born in April and may bless each child with the attributes of loyalty and trust.

Hongjoong chuckled at its meaning once more before he closed both books and left Seonghwa's bookmark where it was. He put the book on his nightstand and blew out his lantern before he sunk into a blissful sleep.

-

Hongjoong awoke to Jongho bringing him a letter to his room. It was Wooyoung's reply after Hongjoong had reached out to him a few days ago. Elated about the quick reply, Hongjoong broke the dark green seal that Jongho pointed out to be the one of San's family and skimmed over the neatly written lines.

Dear Hongjoong,

I am thrilled to have received your letter. I must agree that the act of letter writing is extraordinarily soothing, especially on boring, rainy days. Thus, I share your pleasure about our exchange.

Hearing there is no reason for fury has me worrying whether Seonghwa already wore you out or whether you have transcended beyond fury into nonchalance. However, I believe to have received your sarcasm well, so I pray Seonghwa shall get more bearable soon. I know how debilitating that man can be.

Since you assured me that your patience with him lasts, I hope he and you haven't scratched each other's eyes out. Neither of you would suit the look. What type of insults does he practice towards you? I imagine an ordinary lady would overlook any insult, but you are prideful. Since you are part of the bargain and since you are forced to live with him, I understand your need to defend yourself. Though I recommend care where care is needed. If you strike him with your fists, he might find out your secret and break things apart. I do not know whether that would be an inconvenience to you, but he might react even more viciously than usual.

As for your boredom, that already sounds much like the ladies of this society. All we get to do is sit and wait as the males do the work. Terribly boring, if you ask me, even if some leisure has its advantages. I tend to take walks with San and play some lower-effort sports in our private surroundings. I may do that only since San knows of my true gender, but perhaps you can persuade Seonghwa with your boyish temperament he is already used to. I doubt you have the patience for embroidery or sewing, friend.

I shall try to reply as often as possible to you, the couriers in between us being the only time we need to adjust to. Writing letters is a wonderful pastime. Write as many and as often to me as you wish.

We couldn't take part in the same soiree you mentioned, but I will mention to San that we should be there next time so we can see each other again. Until then, I hope we get to spend time at Seonghwa's home again soon so he and San can spin their conspiracies while the two of us take a walk.

I wish you all the best and as much patience with Seonghwa as possible.

Best Wishes
Wooyoung

Hongjoong skimmed the letter two times before he set it down on his bedside table. Right after breakfast, he would write a response to his new friend. He would happily collect the letters and once he went to the slums and nobody else of this life remained, perhaps he could still be pen pals with Wooyoung and relish in the words they exchanged.